12 Tips to Lose the Weight for Good

“Call it whatever you want, but don't call what you’re doing a ‘diet,’ ” says David Grotto, RD, author of The Best Things You Can Eat.

“Diets have a beginning and an end -- and that’s the problem.” You will only succeed, Grotto says, when you make a lifelong commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

2. Make your goal meaningful.

Shift your focus from “I want to fit into those jeans” to “I want to feel good and have more energy.”

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Internal goals -- like you how feel instead of how you look -- tend to have greater staying power over time. Concentrating on the feel-good benefits you're getting also helps you to stick with something.